The Teaching & Leading Initiative of Oklahoma (TLI) has honored twenty of the top novice teachers in the state in the third annual 20 Under 2 Novice Teaching Awards, a list of promising new Oklahoma teachers.

The honorees include Varnum Public Schools teacher Lauren Kelly. The 20 Under 2 award celebrates emerging teachers who are setting the educational pace for Oklahoma students and make Oklahoma’s future look bright.

Across the state, principals, veteran teachers, and district leaders submitted their top novice teachers for consideration. Each nomination was reviewed by a committee of education professionals and chosen through a multi-stage selection process. The 20 honorees were selected for outstanding classroom culture, fostering academic success, and their commitment to Oklahoma students and communities.

Lauren Kelly is a 6th- 8th grade ELA and high school journalism teacher at Varnum Middle School. Kelly believes that middle grade students are especially wonderful to teach. “Too often, middle school students get written off as hormonal pre-teens or teenagers. But labeling middle schoolers as difficult isn’t fair at all! Teaching middle schoolers is full of incredible moments, real connections, and chances to bond with each other.”

Kelly says that what she loves most about teaching is all the little moments when students learn or connect with one another. She says, “I love it when a light-bulb goes off for a student who has been struggling. I love it when a student is proud to share their work with me. I love it when a high-five in the hallway or a tough conversation leads to a breakthrough in understanding.”

Varnum Middle School principal Amy Williams praised Kelly’s resilience and optimism as a first-year teacher during an unprecedented pandemic year.

“Ms. Kelly has surpassed any expectations I would have of a first-year teacher and especially a first-year teacher during Covid times.”

Kelly, originally from Shawnee, Oklahoma, is an alternatively certified teacher and a graduate of Oklahoma State University.

The 20 Under 2 Novice Teaching Awards were created to recognize the talent

and dedication of Oklahoma’s newest teachers amidst a challenging landscape. In recent years, Oklahoma educators have grappled with limited resources, large class sizes, and low pay, and this year teachers faced a global pandemic along with new forms of distance learning.

For educators just beginning their profession, these challenges are especially difficult. After five years, only about half of new teachers remain in the classroom and schools struggle to recruit high-quality teacher candidates. The 20 Under 2 awards acknowledges these difficulties, and honors new teachers’ whose emerging strengths and talents are needed now more than ever.

Thanks to the generous support of T.D. Williamson and Magic City Books, 20 Under 2 honorees will receive a $250 gift card to Magic City Books to build their classroom library. Honorees will also receive a gift box that includes a custom 20 Under 2 plaque, a Round Table membership from Magic City Books, a custom notebook and other goodies.

“Celebrating this year’s 20 Under 2 honorees is a bright spot amidst an especially difficult year. Oklahoma’s 2021 honorees have not only persisted through the pandemic, but their tremendous skill, hard work, and dedication has distinguished them as some of our most promising educators,” said TLI Executive Director Dr. Joanna Lein. “It is critical that we continue to

find ways to invest in our state’s teaching talent because our students deserve the most skillful and experienced educators.”